Rocket apparatus.



EA H. GODDARD.

I ROCKET APPARATUS.

APPLucAHoN HLED Nov. a, |915.

Patented July 18, 1916.

ROBERT H. GODDARD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROCKET APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed November 8, 1915` Serial N o. 60,240.

To all-whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. GoDDAnD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Rocket Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rocket apparatus of the type in which smallportions of the explosive charge are fired successively within acombustion chamber of small capacity but of great strength relative tothe remaining structure. Such an apparatus is shown in my prior PatentNo. 1,103,503 granted to me July 14, 1914.

It is the object of my present invention to improve and simplifytheconstruction therein shown, said improvements resulting in increasedeconomy of manufacture and in increased certainty and eliciency ofoperation.

Vith this general object in view one feature of my invention relates tothe construction of a rocket apparatus of the type defined, in which thebreech block is mounted for movement within the casing and in which theblockin its travel extracts the empty shell from the fixed combustionchamber and inserts a fresh shell therein, this loperation beingrepeated until the supply of cartridges in the casing is exhausted.

A second feature of my invention relates to the provision of means forfiring each fresh charge after the breech block is seated, and inparticular, to means for firing charges at predetermined time intervals,this latter provision being of prime necessity when accurate flights arerequired.

Another feature of my invention relates to theprovision of a specialtype of cartridge and explosive by which the eiiciency of the apparatusis much increased.

My invention also relates to certain arrangements and combinations ofparts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in whichvFigure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved rocketapparatus; Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken in aplane normal to the plane of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalplan view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;'Fig. 4 is a View inperspective of a portion of the member which contains the combustionchamber; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View of a portion of the breechblock, and Fig. 6 shows in section a modied form of cartridge.

Referring to the drawings, my improved rocket apparatus comprises acasing 10 of comparatively light-Weight material and a member l1 fixedto said casing at its lower end. The member 1-1 is of great strengthwhen considered in relation to the casing 10, and may preferably beformedv o'f nickel steel. In its upper end the member 11 is bored out toprovide a comparatively small combustion vchamber 12 opening at itslower end directly into an outwardly tapering nozzle 13. The purposesand advantages of this tapered nozzle are fully set forth in my priorPatent N o. 1,102,653 granted to me July 7, 1914.

The combustion chamber is adapted to receive a cartridge- 14 containingthe explosive charge 14Et and also preferably closed at its lower end bya patch or wadding 14b of pasteboard or other suitable material. Y

The chamber 12 is normally closed at its upper end by a movable breechblock 15 provided with under-cut guide strips 16-16 (Fig. 5), adapted toengage a guide 17 (Fig. 4) formed upon one face of an upward extension18 of the member 11. The breech block 15 is also provided with alaterally-extending arm 15a (Figs. 2 and 3), the outer end of whichextends into a slotted spring casing 19`fixed to the outer casing 10 inany convenient manner, as by screws 20. A coiled spring 2l is containedwithin the spring casing 19, the lower end of the spring engaging thearm 15a and the upper end of the spring engaging a stop which may be inthe form of a screw 22 extending through the spring casing. l

I have found by careful experiments that a small charge of properlyselected explosive, when fired in a combustion chamber connected with arearwardly tapering nozzle, such as is herein shown, will actsubstantially instantaneously, the product of combustion being blown outfrom the tapering tube before the breech block can begin its upwardtravel. Such upward travel of the block is resisted in the presentapparatus by the spring 21 by which the block is gradually brought torest, the weight of the block and the pressure of the spring thereafterrestoring the block to the normal position in which it closes thecombustion chamber. I ut-ilize this reciprocaton of the breech block towithdraw and eject the empty cartridge shell and to insert a freshcharge in the combustion chamber. An eX- tractor lever 25 is pivoted ina slot formed in the breech block near its lower end, and the hooked endof the extractor extends below the breech block into position to engagean annular shouldered groove or recess 23 formed in the shell 24 of thecartridge 14. The member 11 is recessed at 1la (Fig. 4) to receive theend of the extractor. .As the breech block rises the empty shell isconstrained to follow the movement of the block until the shell reachesa position opposite an inwardly flanged open portion 27 of the casing10. A spring 28 engages the upper end of the extractor lever and holdsit in operative position.

An ejector rod 30 extends longitudinally through the breech block and atits lower end engages the head of the shell 24 near one edge thereof. Atits upper end the rod 30 extends beyond the breech block and is normallyheld in raised position by a light coiled spring 31. As the breech blockapproaches its upper limit of travel, the rod 30 engages a lug 32 xed tothe casing 10 and is forced downwardly relative to the breech block,thereby thrusting the emptyv shell 'out of the casing through theopening 27.

The fresh cartridges 14 are stored within a magazine tube 33 (Fig. 1),which tube is preferably square in cross section and is open at itslower inner end adjacent the breech block 15. The cartridges may beyieldingly forced downward by follower mechanism such as is described inmy prior Patent No. 1,103,503. The lowermost cartridge rests against theside of the breech block and as the block reaches its extreme upperposition the cartridge moves slightly inward to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1. Further inward movement of the cartridges ispreventedby ears 34 (Figs. 1 and 2), formed by bending inward smallportions of the opposite edges of the magazine tube 33. These flangesprevent the fresh cartridge from moving inward a Sullicient distance tobe engaged by the emptyshell or by the ejector rod, but "at the sametime retain the fresh cartridge in position for engagement by theadjacent edge of the breech block in its downward movement. The blockcarries the cartridge downward into the combustion chamber 12, the upperedge of which is beveled' as at 12a,

in order to guide the cartridge into the chamber.

The cartridges 14 are filled with a dense smokeless powder and I haveshown herein two different devices for firing the charge. In thecartridge which is positioned in the combustion chamber 12 I have showna wire 40 having its upper end secured by suitable insulation in thehead of the cartridge, the lower end of the wire being connected to afine resistance wire 4l extending nearly across the lower end of thecartridge and having its outer end secured to the shell 24. Vhenasuitable electrical current is passed through the wires 40 and 41, thewire 41 becomes heated and simultaneously ignites the entire lower endof the charge, a manner 0f igniting which I have found to be absolutelyessential when using a comparatively vslow-burning powder.

The second form of ignition is shown in Fig. 6, in which form the wire42 is supported in the same way as the wire 40 previously described anda second wire 43 is secured to the lower end of the shell 24 and extendsto the center of the lower face of the charge. At this point the ends ofthe wires 42 and 43 are joined by a small bead 44 of fulminatingmaterial, such as fulminate of mercury. A spark coil (not shown) will beused with this form of firing device in addition to the battery 50, tobe described.

I will now describe a form of circuit through which electric current maybe supplied to the firing devices.

An insulated wire 45 (Figs. 1 2 and 3) is mounted in the lower end ofthe breech block and has one end positioned for enga ge- 'ment with theupper end of the wire 40, se-

cured in the end of the cartridge 14. The other end of the wire 45engages a contact member 46 mounted upon a block 47 of insulatingmaterial secured to the casing 10. A spring 48 (Fig. 1) is secured tothe breech block near its lower end and holds the outer end of the wire45 firmly against the contact member 46. A second contact member 49 isalso mounted on the block 47 and normally engages the member 46. Abattery 50 of ordinary type is mountedi within the casing 10 and onepole of the battery is divrectly connected, as by a wire 51, to thecasing 10. The opposite pole of the battery maybe connected to thecontact member 49 by wires 52 and yTh wires 52 and may be directlyconnecte., as indicated by the dotted line 54 in Fig. 1, or they may beintermittently connected to each other by a timing device, 55. Thisdevice may be of any usual construction and is herein shown ascomprising a disk 56` mounted upon au arbor 57 and provided with aplurality of radiating arms 58 each electrically connected with thearbor 57. The wire 52 is connected to the arbor 57 and is thus incircuit with each of the arms 58 and the wire 53 is connected to aspring arm 59 adapted to contact successively with the arms 58 as thedisk 56 is rotated by clockwork (not shown).

If the wires are directly connected to each other, the charge will befired as soon as the breech block has seated itself upon the combustionchamber whereas if the timing device is included within the circuit thecartridges will be fired at predetermined time intervals, each of whichintervals should be slightly greater than the time required by thebreech block for completing its movement. v

The timing device is particularly useful when it is desired to securethe greatest possible efficiency from the apparatus and also whensuccessive flights of identical character are required, as will be-thecase if the apparatus would be used in warfare against a fixed object ofattack. The spring v48 may be utilized to slightly prolong the contactwhen no timing device is used.

For firing the first cartridge, the Vcontact member 49 is'provided witha link 61 of insulating material extending outwardly through an opening62 in the side of the casing 10, the link being turned downward at .itsouter end to provide a hook for engagement with the side of the casing.The contact members 46 and 49 may thus be sepa-` rated, preventing thefiring of the apparatus untilthe link 61 is released.

The magazine tube may be conveniently loadedin the manner described inmy prior Patent No. 1,103,503, and the initial charge may be placedwithin the combustion chamber by manually inserting a small rod throughan opening 63 (Fig. 2) near the lower end of the casing 10. This rodwill engage the projecting arm 15a carried by the breech block and theblock may be thereby raised sufficiently to release the lowermostcartridge which will then be carried down by the breech block into thecombustion chamber, as previously described. n

It will thus appear that I have devised an extremely simple and reliableapparatus by which a series of small charges of explosive material maybe successively fired within a combustion chamber of great strength. Byusing the explosive in successive small charges, I can use smokelesspowder of high power and great efficiency, which has not been previouslyconsidered possible in rocket apparatus. I am also able to use a patchor wadding'in the cartridge, and I have found that the use of highexplosive in combination with the patch or wadding 'increases theeffectiveness of the device Vnot Y Patent N0.'I,103,503, and is alsoadapted for carrying photographic and recordingA `ap.; paratusofdifferent types.l When used for dense smokeless powder or celluloid.This,A pin is connected to the firing apparatus by a wire 75. Whencurrent is passed through the wire the pin 74 will be ignited thusreleasing the pin 72 which will then be withdrawn bythe spring 73. Thedoor 7l and the folded parachute 70 are then forced out of the casing bya spring 76.

Having thus described my invention it will be evident thatchangesandmodifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the Vspirit and scope thereof as set forth in the claimsand I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details hereindisclosed, but

What I claim is 1. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing,a member of great strength fixed in said casing and having acomparatively small combustion chamber therein, a movable breech blockfor closing said chamber, a guide for said block, and means toyieldingly resist movement of said block away from said chamber.

2. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chambertherein, a sliding breech block mounted on guides fixed in said casing,and `a spring effective to seat said breech block on said combustionchamber.

3. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberVtherein, and a 'sliding breech block normally seated on said cham-yber, said member having an upward exten sion beyond said chambereffective' to guide said breech block in its travel relatively to saidchamber.

4. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member ofgreat strength fixed in said casing and having a comparatively smallcombustion chamber therein, a

movable breech block for closing said cham- 4 ber, a guide for saidblock, and means to restore said block to normal position relatively tosaid chamber.

5. A rocket apparatus having,in combination, a casing, a member fixed insaid casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamber therein,a movable breech block for closing said chamber, a guide for said block,and means to restore said block to normal position relatively to saidchamber, said breech block having mounted thereon an extractor to removethe empty shell from the combustion chamber, and an ejector to force theshell outwardly through an openin in said casing.

6. A roc (et apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chambertherein, a movable breech block for closing said chamber, a guide forsaid block, and means to restore said block to normal positionrelatively to said chamber, said breech block having mounted thereon anextractor tolremove the empty shell Vfrom the combustion chamber and anejector rod slidable longitudinally in said breech block, said rod beingadapted to engage a stop fixed in said casing as' the breech blockapproaches its upper limit of travel and'being thereby rendered eectiveto remove said shell from said extractor.

7. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chambertherein, a movable breech block for closing said chamber, a guide forsaidA block, and means to restore said block to normal positionrelatively to said chamber, said breech block being provided withdevices mounted thereon eHective to remove and eject an empty shell asthe block rises and said block being effective to insert a fresh shellas the block returns to normal position.

8. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality of cartridges retained. Within said casing,means to feed said cartridges singly to the combustion chamber and meansfor successively firing said cartridges.

9. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality of Vcartridges retained within said casing,means to feed said cartridges singly' to the combustion chamber, andmeans for successively firing said cartridges at predeterminedtimeintervals.

` 10. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a memberfixed in said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality lof cartridges retained Within said casing,meansto feed said cartridges singly to the combustion chamber, and meansfor, successively firing said cartridges, said latter means comprisingan electric circuit and a time-controlled circuit-closing device in saidcircuit.

11. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality of cartridges retainedwithin said' casing,means to feed said cartridges singly to the combustion chamber, andmeans for successively firing said cartridges, each of said cartridgescomprising a shell closed at its lower end by a patch of suitablematerial and having an electric contact mounted in its opposite end.

12. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality of cartridgesretained Within said casing,means to feed said cartridges singly to the combustion chamber, andmeans for successively firing said cartridges, each of said cartridgesbeing adapted to be connected into an electric circuit when positionedin said combustion chamber and having a resistance Wire inengagementmwith the combustible-charge for firing the same.

13. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion chamberformed therein, a plurality of cartridges retained within said casing,means to feed said cartridges singly to the combustion chamber, andmeans for successively firing said cartridges at predetermined timeintervals, said means comprising a battery in said casing and electricconnections from said Abattery to the cartridge in said combustionchamber.

14. A rocket apparatus having, in combination, a casing, a member fixedin said casing and having a comparatively small combustion' chamberformed therein, a plurality of cartridges retained Within said casing,means to feed said ca-rtridges'singly to the combustion chamber, andmeans for successively firing said cartridges, each of said cartridgescomprisin a shell closed by a patch at its lower eng, a charge of higheX- plosive," and devices Within said shell adapted to be connected intoan electric circuit for firing said charge electrically.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y ROBERT H. GODDARD.

